Defending champion Becky Lavelle will be looking to make it two for two when she leads the women into the water in the 'Escape to Bermuda' Triathlon' tomorrow.

The American, 33, topped the female contest last year, finishing the course in 2:05:51, with compatriot Rebeccah Wassner second and Canadian Lauren Groves in third position.

Lavelle is known by many as a non-drafting specialist and has had an outstanding 2008 season winning the women's Life Time Fitness Series including along with a very strong third place in the Minneapolis event behind Olympic Gold Medalist Emma Snowsill, and a win in the Los Angeles event.

The 2005 U.S. National Champion reckons that the race will be tight with many world class athletes competing this year. However, the question will remain as to how many of the competitors are fully fit with the international Triathlon season coming to an end.

"This year I am really excited to be back," said Lavelle. "I know this year there are a bit more women racing so it looks to be a very competitive race, but hopefully I can pull off the win.

"I am pretty familiar with all of the ladies, we have raced each other in the U.S. throughout the year so it is always hard to know who is fit this time of year because it is the end of the year and a few people may be tried.

"But we will see.

Escape to Bermuda kicks off at 7.30 a.m. and will see competitors take the plunge off the Royal Naval Dockyard and swim the one-mile course to King's Stairs near the famous Clock tower.

Competitors will then cycle a 24-mile course from Dockyard to St. George's before completing the event with a six-mile run through the streets of the historic town.

Lavelle is confident that her past experience on the course will guide her through, with her preparation being a bit better this year.

"The race will be pretty close. It is always hard to say what will happen, but it is a challenging course.

"I know the course a bit better this time arond as last year was the first time. It was tough and is very close to the same course.

"This year I'm a bit more prepared, so we will see how it goes.

"But it will be a tough, hard race that should be exciting."